| |  | May 2024 UCRMN ENews | | The United Church Rural Ministry Network is for all rural and small town folks - lay and ministry.
Please sign up at UCRMN.ca | Past eNewsletters are archived at www.UCRMN.ca
If you have a rural story you would like to share, please submit your story to editor@UCRMN.ca. We welcome articles 300 to 500 words. | | “Zoom” Workshop in September: ???
Date: Third Thursday in September - 1 pm (EDT)
Theme or Subject: What do you want to know? We are open to suggestions. Send your thoughts to editor@UCRMN.ca
Facilitator: Who knows what you want to know? Let us know who that is. We can make the contacts. | |  | “Social Media for the Rural Church”
Thank you for joining us and the members of The United Church of Canada Digital Team for our April Zoom Worship on “Social Media for the Rural Church”.
The team covered off three areas of interest associated with social media.
“Why” and “Who” do you want to connect with? (by Stephen Fetter)
Setting Goals and Objectives (by Aaron Gallegos) - Choosing the right platform.
- Creating engaging content.
- Building community online
Leveraging Visuals and Multimedia (By Cara Czech)
- Promoting Events and Activities.
- Engaging with local community.
- Measuring success and adjusting strategies. Each of these “areas of interest” is a Zoom Workshop by its own. The message shared by the team is plan before you try to post on Social Media. Developing a plan may be the hardest thing to do, but that planning with pay off in successes. We had a few folks wanting to take a look at what are some of the advantages of public Social Media and what might be some of the pitfalls. What are your thoughts?
Editor@UCRMN.ca | |  | Martin Dawson (PEI) and Peter Chynoweh (AB) are retired United Church Ministers who “love” working with “Open Source Software” and used computers. They help the UCRMN Executive stay online.
The Biggest expense for most churches is updating their computers, and just as expensive, Software. In this column, Martin and Peter will give you stories, suggestions and links including YouTube, that show you how to DIY, at a fraction of the cost. All this information is stored at UCRMN.ca on the Tech Resource Page. | | “New Mission and Old Technology” If you have been following the technology articles that I have written in past e-newsletters, you must have noticed that I appreciate both old technology and new technology. This article was inspired by a request that resulted from a meeting of peers at UCRMN concerning my use of simple technology for mission. They desired more information concerning how old technology is able to do modern mission. We discussed Farm Radio International, but it is just one of the charities that I support.
(Click below for the rest of the story) Martin Dawson, retired minister living in Cornwall PEI
| | |  | God Given Understandings
Words from Joyce Sasse's Gleanings from a Prairie Pastor, (pub. 2021) as she reflects on Rural networks. UCRMN has arisen from the networks here described, as well as the Alex Sim Symposium (1996 to 2016 in Ontario). (This EBook can be downloaded at the CIRCLe M website www.circle-m.ca) This article was originally written for April 3, 2021. (Joyce wrote these words on September. 2, 2020. This is a look back, and giving thanks, as we celebrate Affirming Communities of Faith that the world is progressing For 3 years in the 1980s, I was invited to work on the United Church’s National Worship Committee. I was excited about being able to speak on behalf of the frustrations rural churches were having with worship-related expectations of the National Church in a time when the expectation was that we become lectionary-based. What I didn’t realize was that a secondary God-given agenda, that of debate about the ordination of homosexual candidates for ministry, was very much in the hearts of single persons such as myself.
We were invited to meet for several days in Toronto in the Spring and the Fall for each of those 3 years. My room-mate was a delegate from Newfoundland … a person whose presence I very much enjoyed, and a person whose story made my heart ache.
This was an era when she didn’t dare publicly “come out” gay. That meant she had to hide the fact she had a “partner”, and she had to live with the fear her relationship might be exposed at any moment.
Her story made my heart ache for her loneliness because I so enjoyed the sense of ministry I found myself discovering with my own congregations.
Her only choice was to live in the city where her private life would (hopefully) remain hidden. Her choices left her feeling constantly conflicted … Thank goodness we had those nights of talking together in our hotel room. I found myself listening and inviting the unfolding of her story … while she was finding words to express what was at the soul of her being.
We never remained in touch after our 3-year assignment was completed, but I was ever so grateful for the depth of understanding she gave me.
Several years later, while I was attending a gathering at St. Andrew’s College (Saskatoon) someone touched my arm, gave me a lovely smile and indicated we had met before … in Toronto. Even before I had time to say more, I recognized her heart-felt smile. She told me she was in the College for a course … and then she quietly moved off to attend the next class. But our bonding in that moment was instantaneous.
Over those intervening years so much of the Church’s and Society’s thinking about “inclusivity” has matured. In the process not only do I believe I was able to help one special person find her way, but I can affirm how much her story enriched my life. God-given revelations like this are precious beyond words.
(Written by Joyce Sasse) - shared by Catherine Christie | |  | “Rural Roots Through the Holy - 2024”
When: Thursday, June 13th at 10:00 to Saturday, June 15th at 2:00
Where: Orchard Valley United Church, New Minas, NS
Theme: Beautiful to Behold: Broken Open Church
Theme Presenter: Rev. Dr. Catherine Smith ____________________________________________________________________________
In the last few issues of the newsletter we've told you a bit about Rural Routes Through the Holy. You can go back and have a read or you can check out some of the links directly to find out what it's all about. You can find them at the end of this article.
We're really looking forward to gathering again this year, our fourth year and this year we're adding another possibility. You can join us virtually for all the themes, as well as the opening and closing worship and a few other brief presentations or 'tasters' as we like to call them. Since we really love the getting-together in-person-part of Rural Routes, we encourage you to find a few others, a kitchen table group, a hub, whatever you'd like to call it and join us as your own group. One person in your group can connect you to us and take notes for our Rural Cafe times. We always punctuate our theme presentation times with these times for conversation and response.
Registration will be $50 per group. While we’re really encouraging folks to come and be with us in-person, we know that’s not possible for everyone. If you are joining us virtually, we encourage you to gather a group - it’s more fun in a group, as everyone learns. For more information or to receive a link, please contact Catherine at ruralroutesatlantic@gmail.com.
Registration may be made by:
e-transfer to firstunitedmurraycorner@gmail.com
Please make cheques payable to: First United Church and mail to::
Donna Allen, Registrar
1345 Route 955
Murray Corner, NB E4M 3H6
And . . . if you're in the Maritimes or you know someone in the Maritimes who might like to join us in person, please encourage them. In past years we've formed a warm, relaxed community in which we worship, learn, pray, sing, talk and eat together. You don't have to be part of the United Church to join us. You don't have to be attending any church. You can just come, be with us and be who you are.
Now, I'm sometimes a procrastinator, so for anyone who may share that trait with me, I encourage you not to overthink. Just email me if you'd like to join virtually or register here if you'll be joining us in person.
Your RRTH team, me (Catherine) Kerry, Martin, Marvin and Karen hope to see you there.
If you want to read more here are some links.
What is Rural Routes
Schedule Theme Theme Speaker.
Registration Fee: $50 You can register here.
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Information for in-person registrants:
Accommodation: Attendees are responsible for making their own accommodation arrangements. This year we've reserved a block of rooms at the Acadian University Residence which you can. If you'd like to reserve one of these you can email karen at karen_archibaldwaugh@outlook.com There are other accommodation options which you can discover through the area's tourist information.
All meals except breakfast are provided as part of the gathering. Coffee, tea, and muffins are available at 9:30 am at the gathering each morning.
We have been able to keep registration costs low through the support received from grants and generous donors.
We're also glad that RRTH will again form part of an independent summer study with AST taught by Dr. Marvin Lee Anderson, one of the RRTH team. See next article for more information.
Catherine For Kerry, Martin, Marvin & Sara The RRTH Team |  | |  | “Rural Culture and Context”
For the second year, attendance at “Rural Routes Through the Holy” will form part of a directed summer study offered by the Atlantic School of Theology. Dr. Marvin Lee Anderson will supervise the course. You can read the syllabus here. This is an excellent opportunity for those wanting to delve deeper into an exploration of rural context and culture. | |  | Experience Alberta Foothills’ Rural Culture
JUNE 18-21, 2024
Meeting of the Rural Church Network of United States and Canada. Hosted by CENTRE FOR RURAL COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND MINISTRY, affiliated with Saskatoon Theological Union.
And Rural Church Network of the United States and Canada
Being held at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre, Cochrane, AB. find information and registration form on www.circle-m.ca
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Registrations will close on May 31.
This is a North America Conference, and is open to all who may be interested in our shared Rural Ministries. (Canada and United States)
What a wonderful way to experience the “Rockies”, and what the Rural Church is doing in Banff and area.
Catherine Christie - CiRCLe M Chair | | |  | “Appreciation and Choice” As we rode through farmland for ninety minutes heading north on a road trip yesterday, memories flooded my mind. Each concession showcased a vibrant array of colors in the lush fields after a fresh rain shower. Some properties would be what my dad called ‘big farmers,’ and others, like him, farmed generational property because he loved it and had been trained and encouraged by his father and grandfather before him.
I was raised on a farm, went to a one-room schoolhouse, and attended the church on the corner of a concession. Along with other farm kids, I listened to friends tell ghost stories in a darkened room while our parents attended a farm forum around the kitchen radio. I cannot think of a better mix for a kid growing up. Yet, numerous friends of mine were brought up in urban areas and had a great appreciation for their childhood, making the most of nearby resources and lots of friends on the same block.
Summer vacations were always a delight for my Guelph cousins when they came to the farm. In turn, I would go into the city for a week and couldn’t wait to get up in the morning and go, go, go. Everything was either within walking distance or on the bus route. And maybe the best move for both of us was coming home to the familiar, as well as memories and promises yet to be fulfilled. Heidi VanderSlikke, who writes for the Christian Courier, moved from the city to the country, wrote, ‘And somewhere along the line I became fully countrified—fiercely proud of my rubber boots and rural roots.’
Wherever we are, we are not alone. Thanks be to God.
By Reverend Donna Mann (Retired) - Ontario | |  | What Regenerative Farming Can Teach the Church:
This article is from Convergence Weekly, by Cameron Trimble.
(Cameron has given UCRMN permission to reprint this article.) For much of my life, I have lived in cities or suburbs. I remember spending hours of my life each weekend pulling plants out of the ground that we called “weeds.” I would then spend more hours of my life and hundreds of dollars to put different plants in their place, all in pursuit of a thing called a “manicured lawn.” We all did this on our weekends. It was the unquestioned task of the responsible homeowner.
A few years ago my family and I moved to a small, rural town called Wedowee, Alabama. We purchased 10 acres of land once cared for by the Muscogee Nation tribal people. Suddenly, in addition to being a congregational consultant, I became a farmer.
Let me tell you, I’ve now watched a lot of YouTube videos on how to drive a tractor. Nothing in my previous life experience prepared me for this new adventure.
Click below for the “Rest of the Story”
Shared by Catherine Christie | | |  |
RENEWING THE RURAL CHURCHReporting on the workshop: During the last four Thursday evenings, I have been participating in a series called Renewing the Rural Church, which took place in “The Church at Nairn” in Alisa Craig, Ontario. It was an on-site ecumenical workshop, but there was an option for participating by Zoom, and there was a group of 5 of us who gathered that way, becoming a discussion group (from Saskatchewan, Manitoulin Island, Sarnia and St. Mary’s). This program was enabled through a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.
There was one main speaker each week, with discussion questions for the groups. The speakers were: Joel Lock of Freshwater Community Church in Manitoulin Island, Joretta Marshall, Emerita prof of Pastoral Theology, Care and Counselling, Brite Divinity, Texas (Her description of her home community sounded very much like mine), Sandra Beardsall, of St. Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, talked about Ecumenical Shared Ministries, and Brad Roth, a Mennonite pastor from Kansas. They all had valuable insights.
Mykayla Turner, the director of the program, is going to write a more detailed report for us in the next newsletter. One thing, Mykayla notes, is a quarterly publication (likely both online and in physical form) called "Soil and Soul" that will share a variety of content merging rural life and spirituality. Content might include stories, worship resources, academic-type reflections, visuals, and even recipes! UCRMN looks forward to networking with the ongoing work coming from this series.
Article by Catherine Christie | |  | Rural Churches Making Their Next Move:
A few months ago I shared about the 10 United Churches in Chatham-Kent meeting about every six weeks. We shared how the Holy Spirit was offering opportunities in times of change and uncertainty. Today I’d like to share an update.
We started meeting in November of 2022, and since that time although we still have 10 congregations we now only have seven buildings. One church since 2020 is meeting in the Community Room of the local Funeral Home. Two congregations are “nesting” with their sister churches. Those two congregations offered their buildings For Sale.
In the middle of May the sale will close on the second building. The sister congregations are enjoying the extra folks at worship, as well as one minister can serve the four congregations as they now share two services. The fourth church has entered into a “Ministry Sharing Agreement” with three other churches. They are contracted for 25% of the Minister’s Salary, and each church gets a service every other week. The fourth church is using Licensed Lay Worship Leaders on the between Sundays. The other churches gather together at another’s service the week they are without a service.
One of the learnings that is shareable is to take small steps. Maybe figure out where you will meet. Then talk about selling the church (after a few months). Take your time (if possible). Connect with your Regional Council for guidance as soon as possible.
You will not need to rush (unless you have left things too long). As you take each step allow the congregation to catch up; to share their thoughts and stories.
Who knows what will happen in the next year or so, but these congregations are breathing, worshipping and not feeling like failures. When the next step presents itself, they will work towards it - whatever that might be.
Pray and discern. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
Here is a video of the “Decommissioning Service” of one of the churches.
Story by Eric Skillings | |  | “Rural Ministry Town Halls 2024” in 2024, the Rural Ministry Town Halls are focusing on different subjects to allows Rural folks to share our experiences, about that month’s topic. Knowing that ministry vitality looks different in rural areas and valuing those differences, these gatherings are a chance for the growth team to develop an understanding of what might be most helpful for rural ministry going forward. Any learnings from these gatherings will enhance our understanding as we work with regional councils to support rural ministry.
In May is the last Zoom Discussion Group until the fall - There has been wonderful discussions - share your thoughts. Click below for the Zoom Link and on May 29 - join the conversations. | | |  | Chinook Wings is sponsoring this Rural Ministry Conference in October of 2024.
At last fall’s 2023 Rural Ministry Conference, the leadership recorded the them speaker in High River. You can find the recordings on YouTube by clicking these links:
Morning Session with Rev. Jenny Carter starts at minute 18.
Afternoon Session with Rev. Jenny Carter
United Church Part-Time Ministry
We will offer more information in our September ENews. Thank you to Chinook Winds for their commitment to Rural Ministry. | |  | | Regional Meetings and UCRMN: | Most Regions have a Networking Fund that allows Networks such as the United Church Rural Ministry Network to apply for funding. We are asking for $300 from each Region. Thank you to those Regions who have supported UCRMN in 2023 (Antler River Waterways, Western Ontario Waterways, Prairie to Pine, Northern Spirit, Nakonhaka, Living Skies and Horseshoe Fall). Please invite people interested in rural ministry to check out us at UCRMN.ca. | | So Long For Now!
We hope you enjoyed this Edition of ENews. Any suggestions are most welcomed.
Email editor@UCRMN.ca
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Please forward this email to your Rural Ministry Colleagues and encourage them to “sign up” from our webpage at www.UCRMN.ca
_________________________________________________Who is UCRMN?
We are a Volunteer Charitable Network that is collecting and posting Rural Ministries initiatives in the United Church - from across Canada - all in one place; www.UCRMN.ca
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If you have an interest in finding out more, or to volunteer, please email us at office@UCRMN.ca
Blessings on your ministry!
Catherine, Eric, Donna, Shelley and Yvonne | | | | |
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